Re-imaging South Asia.

Re-imaging South Asia. This was the theme of the second Open Forum session held today, May 12, 2007 at the VIBGYOR Film Festival.

Placing the theme in the context of the films being shown at the festival, the session moderator CS Venkiteswaran, well-known film critic and writer, raised questions about the role of the post-globalisation emergence of new communication technologies, which while revolutionizing communication has also concentrated power in the North. He also raised questions about the role of the nation state in countries of South Asia.

The first Open Forum session of the ongoing VIBGYOR International Film Festival focused on the topic "Indigenous people, Representation & Realities". Dr. K Gopinath, Professor of Philosophy at Calicut University chaired the session. The panelists included Bhagaban Majhi, Leader of Prakrutik Sampada Surakshya Parishad (PSSP) from Kashipur, Orissa; JP Raju, Leader of the adivasi movement from Nagarhole, Karnataka; Meghnath, activist film-maker from Jharkhand; and KP Sasi, activist film-maker and VIBGYOR Festival Director.

Thrissur: "No development is sustainable without considering the five basic elements that constitutes the life on earth" said Ram Dayal Munda,Leader of Adivasi Andolan on delivering the key note address on National Conference in connection with ViBGYORr International Film Festival at Regional theater, here in Trissur. His words along with his singing inspired the audience.

In response to the key note address, Meghanath, an activist film maker suggested that system of inter-dependence is needed for the sustainable development. K.K kochu, dalit activist, pointed out the need for extending the discussion on earth to social & cultural realms.

International Film Festival for Short & Documentaries, Thrissur, Kerala, India

2007 May 10-13, Regional Theatre-Natyagruham-Chetana Hall
Festival to the People: Pananchery Panchayat